Neospora vaccines

Abstract

A Neospora caninum vaccine comprising tissue culture grown Neospora and methods of making and using said vaccines. Neospora caninum vaccines described include those containing whole Neospora tachyzoites, extracts of Neospora tachyzoites and protective antigen subunits of Neospora tachyzoites. The vaccines of this invention may be inactivated or modified live and contain adjuvants and/or stabilizers. The vaccines of this invention may be in a liquid or lyophilized form.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A  Neospora caninum  vaccine comprising tissue culture grown Neospora.  
     
     
         2 . The  Neospora caninum  vaccine according to  claim 1  wherein the tissue culture grown Neospora comprises an antigen selected from the group consisting of a whole culture of Neospora tachyzoites, an inactivated tissue culture of Neospora tachyzoites, a modified live tissue culture Neospora tachyzoites, an extract from Neospora tachyzoites and one or more subunits obtained from Neospora tachyzoites.  
     
     
         3 . The  Neospora caninum  vaccine according to  claim 1  further comprising an inactivating agent and an adjuvant.  
     
     
         4 . The  Neospora caninum  vaccine according to  claim 3  wherein the inactivating agent is selected from the group consisting of formalin, beta-propiolactone, heat, binary ethylenimine, detergents and means for freezing/thawing.  
     
     
         5 . The  Neospora caninum  vaccine according to  claim 3  wherein the adjuvant is selected from the group consisting of polymers, oil in water, water-in-oil-in-water, lipids, aluminum hydroxide, aluminum phosphate, aluminum sulfate, immunomodulators and combinations thereof.  
     
     
         6 . The  Neospora caninum  vaccine according to  claim 5  wherein the polymer adjuvant is selected from the group consisting of Carbopol, HAVLOGEN® and POLYGEN®.  
     
     
         7 . The  Neospora caninum  vaccine according to  claim 5  wherein the oil-in-water adjuvant is selected from the group consisting of EMULSIGEN® and EMULSIGEN PLUS®.  
     
     
         8 . The Neospora vaccine according to  claim 1  wherein the Neospora is modified live.  
     
     
         9 . A method for growing a  Neospora caninum  in a susceptible tissue culture to an amount sufficient to protect mammals against infection or abortion caused by said  Neospora caninum,  comprising inoculating the  Neospora caninum  onto said tissue culture and harvesting the replicated  Neospora caninum.    
     
     
         10 . A method of producing a Neospora vaccine comprising the steps of: 
 a. growing  Neospora caninum  in a susceptible tissue culture until a cytopathic effect is produced;    b. harvesting said tissue culture grown  Neospora caninum;  and    c. formulating said harvest into a vaccine.    
     
     
         11 . A method of producing a Neospora vaccine comprising the steps of: 
 a. growing  Neospora caninum  in a susceptible tissue culture until a cytopathic effect is produced;    b. harvesting said tissue culture grown  Neospora caninum;      c. inactivating said harvested tissue culture grown  Neospora caninum;  and    d. adjuvanting the inactivated harvested tissue culture grown  Neospora caninum  to produce a vaccine.    
     
     
         12 . A method of producing a Neospora subunit vaccine comprising the steps of: 
 a. growing  Neospora caninum  in a susceptible tissue culture until a cytopathic effect is produced;    b. harvesting said tissue culture grown  Neospora caninum;      c. extracting one or more protective antigens from the harvested tissue culture grown  Neospora caninum  to produce a subunit;    d. inactivating the subunit(s), optionally; and    e. adjuvanting the subunit(s) to produce a vaccine.    
     
     
         13 . A method of producing a Neospora subunit vaccine comprising the steps of: 
 a. growing  Neospora caninum  in a susceptible tissue culture until a cytopathic effect is produced;    b. harvesting said tissue culture grown  Neospora caninum;      c. inactivating the  Neospora caninum  harvest;    d. extracting one or more protective antigens from the harvested, inactivated tissue culture grown  Neospora caninum  to produce a subunit(s); and    e. adjuvanting the subunit(s) to produce a vaccine.    
     
     
         14 . A method of protecting mammals from disease caused by  Neospora caninum  comprising, administering to said mammals the vaccine according to claims  1 - 8 .